Currently, tons of high quality commercial glass are down-cycled or landfilled due to contaminants that prevent close-loop recycling. Yet, this glass is potentially a valuable resource for casting robust and aesthetically unique building components. Exploring the potential of this idea, different types of non-recyclable silicate glasses are kiln-cast into 30 × 30 × 240 mm beams, at relatively low temperatures (820–1120∘C). The defects occurring in the glass specimens due to cullet contamination and the high viscosity of the glass melt, are documented and correlated to the casting parameters. Then, the kiln-cast specimens and industrially manufactured reference beams are tested in four-point bending, obtaining a flexural strength range of 9–72 MPa. The results are analysed according to the role of the chemical composition, level of contamination and followed casting parameters, in determining the flexural strength, the Young’s modulus and the prevailing strength-limiting flaw. Chemical compositions of favourable performance are highlighted, so as critical flaws responsible for a dramatic decrease in strength, up to 75%. The defects situated in the glass bulk, however, are tolerated by the glass network and have minor impact on flexural strength and Young’s modulus. The prerequisites for good quality recycled cast glass building components are identified and an outline for future research is provided.@en

It is not obvious to talk about glass recycling when we realize that a mature recycling procedure for glass bottles is already working well. However, apart from glass bottles, unfortunately, that a large amount of glass will disappear into landfills. This large quantity of unrecycled glass indicates that there is a large potential in upgrading the glass recycling process. In the field of architecture, we see a fast-growing interest in using glass, also for structures. The glass bricks of Crystal Houses in Amsterdam are a good illustration. Aiming at maximizing the recyclability of glass, this paper focuses on the structural use of the glass components made from recycled glass through kiln casting method. An overview of the existing glass recycling industry is given at the beginning, followed by a discussion of glass type to be recycled. After this the experimental process of the glass recycling is introduced, which uses coated float glass with tints as the basic material to be recycled. Following this, a further exploration in three structural properties of the recycled products is conducted, namely: Young’s modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion and the fracture strength, with mechanical experiments. Finally, the test results are analyzed together with the chemical composition of the recycled products, which is derived from X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The result contains the value of mechanical properties and it evaluates the possibility of the structural use as a recycled-float-glass beam. In the end of this paper, the future possibility and feasibility in structural application of recycling waste float glass are discussed.@en